However, whether or not you can legally make staff work the extra bank holiday is not the only issue you should consider. The TUC has warned that employers who do not allow their workforce to have the day off could face “needless ill-will” from staff.

Former TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “The annoyance and ill-will that will be caused by forcing staff to work while everyone else is out having a nice time will far outweigh any benefits from one extra day in the office.”

2. Are employees who work on the additional bank holiday entitled to extra pay?

There is no statutory right to extra pay for working during the Diamond Jubilee. However, employees may be entitled to extra pay, such as half or double time, if it states so in their employment contracts.

3. Does the additional bank holiday affect the leave of part-time workers not scheduled to work on that day?

If employers decide to give their workforce the day off on the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday, they may be wondering whether or not part-time staff who are not scheduled to work on 5 June are entitled to additional leave.

The key here is that part-time workers should receive equal treatment to full-time staff, so you need to make sure they end up with the same amount of leave, including bank holidays, as comparable full-time workers, on a pro-rata basis.